Video: TV cameraman gets camera stolen on live television

A KPIX news cameraman in Oakland, CA was punched in the face and had his $6000 camera stolen just as he was wrapping up a report. Viewers at home see the camera wobble and then it cuts out completely.

Stealing cameras in broad daylight seems to be happening a lot in the Bay Area, with Laura Oda of the Oakland Tribune reporting that two of her cameras have been grabbed out of her hands since August. Both KTVU and KNTV also report having their equipment stolen while on location. SF Gate reports that five men fled the scene in a Mercedes Benz, accompanied by a Lexus. Could these criminals be planning their very own TV network?

It turns out that, not only were 38-year-old Melody Lippert (mugshot, left) and 30-year-old Michelle Ghirelli (right) booked for unlawful sexual conduct, but the extra-curricular enthusiasts are also facing drug charges.